BILLINGS, MT, April 2007 â€“ Austin-Lehman Adventures announces two 2007 departures in Oaxaca, Mexico, featuring an insiderâ€™s cultural and culinary tour blended with an active week of sightseeing, hiking and easy cycling throughout the region.

Back from a brief hiatus due to last yearâ€™s political unrest, the multi-sport travel company that specializes in immersive travel experiences throughout the Americas has scheduled two departures that coincide with two of Oaxacaâ€™s most colorful holidays and festivals; October 26-November 2 incorporating the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival and December22-29 spanning Christmas week celebrations including La Noche de los RÃ¡banos (Night of the Radishes) festival.

Says Paul Lehman, ALA co-founder and recent addition to Forbes Travelerâ€™s panel of Mexico Experts, â€œThese trips are a wonderful chance to see Oaxaca in a very intimate way, on foot and two wheels. Oaxaca is a very special place, an historic colonial city whose charm and warmth have not been diminished by the impact of modern tourism.â€

Austin-Lehman Adventures has been closely monitoring the situation in Oaxaca with timely reports from two senior guides who reside there during the winter months. â€œDuring last summer and fallâ€™s unrest none of the protests were ever aimed at tourists or tourism sites,â€ states ALA trip leader Carl Lee-McLellan. â€œThe word on the street is that the city is back to normal and tourists are starting to return.â€

A US State Department public announcement issued on January 18, 2007 cautioning travelers when visiting Oaxaca expired on April 20, 2007. It was replaced by a more general statement on tourist travel to Mexico.

Named one of the top 10 cities in The Americas by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, Oaxaca owes its fame to the distinction of its colonial architecture and extensive ruins, its year-round spring-like climate, and its friendly and artistic people.

The nearly all-inclusive, per person, double occupancy rate for the 8 day/7 night programs, exclusive of round trip air, is $2,998 ($695 single supplement). For details please see http:/www.austinlehman.com/ALmain.php?Option=Detail&TripID=68. This ALA program was named one of the "Top 25 Best New Adventures of 2006" by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Guests lodge in distinctive accommodations: Hotel Ex-Convento San Pablo, a well-located and historic Dominican convent dating back to the 16th century that has been carefully renovated with colonial furnishings, fine craftwork, and original antique paintings; and Casa Sagrada, a small family-run hotel overlooking the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle with spectacular mountain and valley views.

Cycling and hiking on back country roads guests discover El Tule Tree, a massive cypress that may be the broadest and oldest of its kind on the continent; Monte Alban, the oldest city of the Americas and ancient capital of the Zapotecs (it was a bustling urban center 600 years before Columbus was born); Oaxaca City, a UNESCO Human Heritage Site; the â€œwild sideâ€ of Oaxaca, the Mixteca as experienced by hiking through the steep-walled Canyon of Apoala including the great falls of Cascada Cola de la Serpiente; and the ruins of Mitla, considered to be among the most beautiful archaeological sites in the Americas.

When nor observing the holiday festivities of Dia de los Muertos (Octobertrip) or Night of La Noche de los RÃ¡banos during Christmas week, guests enjoy private audiences with noted wood carvers and black pottery artisans in their own studios. They will also join a cooking class with Reyna Mendoza, resident chef, to discover regional culinary specialties at Casa Sagrada. Also at the inn, Arnulfo Mendoza, Teotitlanâ€™s most famous son, will demonstrate traditional rug weaving and wool dyeing techniques.

New for 2007, ALA is also offering a cultural tour of the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico. The trip explores the remote LacandÃ³n rainforest ruins of Palenque, YaxchitlÃ¡n and Bonampak and indigenous highland Maya villages.The 8 day / 7 night program will run September 23-30, October 28-November 4 (Day of the Dead trip), and December 23-30, 2007. The per person, double rate is $2,998, exclusive of air to and from Mexico.

ALA is also a founding member of the travel consortium, Trusted Adventures (http:/www.trustedadventures.com), which mixes and matches its clients to adventures in the Americas as well as in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.The alliance offers 300 unique trips to over 75 destinations worldwide.